SOUTHERN KENYA 135 National Park Tsavo East © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © National Park Tsavo West Chyulu Hills National Park Amboseli National Park ( p144 ) Ngulia Ngulia ( p140 ), the world’s ( p137 ) ( p141 ) at Tsavo West West ) at Tsavo p141 ( ( p141 ) in Tsavo West West ) in Tsavo p141 ( Leviathan Leviathan Tsavo East National Park Tsavo Mzima Springs longest lava tube, part of the Chyulu Hills National Park National Park National Park black rhinos at the last remaining Rhino Sanctuary National Park elephant herds framed by Mt Kilimanjaro at elephant herds framed by Mt Kilimanjaro at Amboseli National Park oasis of country of

Spelunking in Spelunking glimpse of some of Kenya’s a rare Catching photo of safari Snapping that quintessential Spotting hippos and crocs in the pristine the back Braving the country’s scariest lions in

„ „ „ „ „ HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

The majesty of nature aside, southern Kenya aside, is a major transport for anyone heading of nature majesty The route While the tourist trail definitely swings towards Amboseli and Tsavo, southern Kenya is and Tsavo, swings towards Amboseli While the tourist trail definitely

charismatic creatures. and the sunscreen, spend a bit more time on safari, and get to know a few more of Kenya’s more safari, and get to know a few time on a bit more spend and the sunscreen, seduced by the tropical climes of the coast. So, before you break out the beach blanket break you So, before seduced by the tropical climes of the coast. principal artery, which makes it easy to spend some time exploring the area before being before principal artery, which makes the area it easy to spend some time exploring south to Tanzania’s northern circuit. The Nairobi–Mombasa road also serves as the region’s northern Nairobi–Mombasa road also serves circuit. The as the region’s south to Tanzania’s the wilds of southern Kenya. awaiting the weary traveller, it’s certainly to wake up in awaiting the weary traveller, no hardship finding somewhere grass-roots level. Boasting a wide range of tented camps, lodges, bandas and campsites lodges, bandas and campsites camps, range of tented Boasting a wide grass-roots level. community-run reserves and projects that are bringing the good conservation bringing and projects to the fight community-run reserves that are Hills, and the lush landscapes of the Taita Hills. The region also plays host to a number of also region The Hills. Hills, and the lush landscapes of the Taita also home to a number of natural wonders, including the extensive lava tubes of the Chyulu of natural wonders, including the extensive also home to a number Kenya’s wildest landscapes. park so massive it’s divided into east and west sectors, you can bush camp in some of into east and west sectors, it’s divided can bush camp in some of you park so massive herds of elephants roam the imperial court of Africa’s highest peak. At Tsavo, a national the imperial courtherds of elephants roam peak. highest Tsavo, of Africa’s At with Tanzania, where the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro plains, enormous meet the Amboseli where with Tanzania, Amboseli and Tsavo rank at the top of Kenya’s national park offerings. Along the border rank at the top of Kenya’s park offerings. national Amboseli and Tsavo simply safari country par excellence. With the sole exceptions of Masai Mara and Lake With the sole exceptions of Masai Mara Nakuru, excellence. simply safari country par Although this tiny region is straddled by Nairobi and Mombasa, southern Kenya is quite Kenyasouthern is quite Nairobi and Mombasa, is straddled by tiny region Although this Southern Kenya SOUTHERN KENYA Wllf Conservancy. Wildlife Taita HillsWildlife SanctuaryandRukinga Lumo Community Wildlife Sanctuary, ing KimanaCommunity Wildlife Sanctuary, areas, includ- number of private conservation There areNdethya NationalReserve. alsoa Tsavo National Parks, East andtheNgai- ChyuluHills,TsavoAmboseli, Westand Nairobi andVoi,you’llfind Between National Parks&Reserves from October to November. ences heavy rainfallfromMarch toJuneand temperatures around 30ºC,butstillexperi- this area tends to behotanddry,withaverage Falling centralKenya between andthecoast, 136 Climate To Limuru NP (175km) To Serengeti SOUTHERN KENYA To Magadi(10km) (15km) Oltepesi Prehistoric Site Olorgasailie OTENKNA • h odt rsa SOUTHERN KENYA ••TheRoadtoArusha Ngong ὈὈ ὈὈ Kiserian Arusha Nairobi A104 Namanga Bissel Kajiado Isinya

Amboseli

T ANZI Lake Kiboko A23 Athi River

Amboseli River NP Makutano To DaresSalaam Salama Machakos A109 Ol Tukai Mwanga Moshi C103 (390km) Emali Loitokitok B1 Makutano Holili WS Community Kimana Myondoni Kiboko ὈὈὈὈὈὈ ὈὈὈὈ ὈὈὈὈ ὈὈὈὈ ὈὈὈὈ Lake Jipe Makindu Taveta

Hills NP Challa

Chyulu Lake Namanga, which is agoodplacetostock up will also take you totheborder town of to thecityof Arusha (Tanzania). Thisroad totheTanzanianstraight borderenroute Heading southfromNairobi, theA104runs THE ROADTOARUSHA mation onorganising asafari, see p65 . from Nairobi Formore orMombasa. infor- option, andsimplyvisitonanorganised safari your owntransport.Mostpeopletake theeasy ently canbealogisticalnightmare without trying tovisitthenationalparksindepend- road.However, along theNairobi–Mombasa strungout public transport,especiallythose The maintownshere are easilyaccessibleby Getting There&Around River Athi Tsavo West Murka Mtito Andei NP

To Kangonde(40km) Tsavo Kibwezi B7 Community Kitui Lumo

WS

Maktau B7 River Taita Hills Mutomo WS Wundanyi

Manyani

Athi River A23 30miles 50km 0 0 Tsavo Maungu Voi Tsavo East A109 Conservancy Rukinga Wildlife Bungule NP C103 lonelyplanet.com

Galana (Sabaki) River Mwanatibu To Malindi Mombasa (125km) (110km) To